Ex-Broadway Chairman Goes to Platt Music

Francis H. Arnone, former chairman and chief executive of the Broadway department store chain, said Monday that he has joined Platt Music Corp. of Los Angeles in the newly created post of executive vice president for marketing and merchandising.

Platt Music, founded in 1905, is a privately held retailer specializing in selling consumer electronics goods through leased operations in 135 leading department stores, including Bloomingdale’s, May Co. Southern California, Emporium-Capwell and Marshall Field & Co. Platt is headed by Michael Glazer, chairman and chief executive, and Thomas Bagan, president.

Arnone disclosed plans last December to step down as president and chief executive of the market services division of Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc., Los Angeles. He had headed Carter Hawley’s Broadway division before assuming the helm at the market services unit in New York.

In announcing his plans to leave Carter Hawley after 10 years, Arnone had said he was interested in returning to Southern California and going into business for himself. Since February, he had been operating his own firm, Marketing Services Inc., which provided consulting services to Price, Waterhouse & Co., Platt and other companies.

The position at Platt, according to Arnone, fulfills his two goals. He will acquire an equity interest in Platt and become a director of the company, pending board approval.

“This position affords me the opportunity to make a contribution to a stimulating, entrepreneurial management team,” Arnone said.